SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories from the Lotus Sutra

Dogen-Zenji so cherished the Lotus Sutra that he actually carved a selection of it into his door. This, the core text of not only Zen but the whole of Mahayana Buddhism, has never lost its appeal among practitioners of the Way. Join us for our SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD: Stories From the Lotus Sutra led by Sensei Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Genzan Quennell

SESSHIN: Exploring The Heart Sutra

Instructor(s):
Sensei Irene Kaigetsu Bakker, Sensei Kaz Tanahashi

The Heart Sutra is a foundational text in our practice. It is a core text in Mahayana Buddhism and chanted daily in most zen centers. What is it when we chant: “Maha Prajna Paramita, the perfection of great wisdom, wisdom beyond wisdom”? How can we realize and actualize this prajna in our daily lives and live the life of a bodhisattva?

This sesshin with Sensei Kazuaki Tanahashi and Sensei Irène Kaigetsu Bakker explores the heart, the very essence of the Heart of the Heart Sutra and the main teachings it carries. It provides a rare opportunity to practice together and bring practice and realization into one vessel. Sesshin, meaning to gather the heart/mind, is an intensive meditation retreat, done with others that deepens our relationship to our mind and to the world. In sesshin, the mind/body calms and settles, and the mind becomes clear and open. We experience the deep stillness that lies within each of us and the tremendous strength of a community (sangha) practicing together.

The retreat is in silence, with sitting and walking meditation, formal silent meals in the zendo (oryoki), chanting services. There will be one hour of work-practice (samu), daily dharma-talks by the teachers and private interviews (dokusan) with Sensei Kaigetsu.

Sample Schedule

More about the instructors:

Irène Kaigetsu Kyojo Bakker is a certified Zen teacher from the Netherlands, a Zen priest and Dharma successor of Joan Jiko Halifax Roshi. She has been a student of Zen in the White Plum Sangha tradition since the mid-80s.

Irène Sensei first met Roshi Joan Halifax in Auschwitz in 1996 and they had a strong connection. Irène Sensei then became involved in Upaya's Zen training and Being with Dying training. In 2004, Roshi Joan asked her to continue her training on death and dying in Europe. Since many years Sensei has been coming to Upaya Zen Center once a year to teach.

In Holland Sensei Irène serves as teacher for Zen Spirit, which she founded in 2004. As family and systems therapist, she worked with people with cancer, end of life care, in psychiatry, and private therapy practice. As a mindfulness trainer she taught future MBSR trainers at the College / School for Social Work in Utrecht, Netherlands.

When receiving Denkai and Denbo in March 2012, Roshi Joan gave her the name Kaigetsu (Ocean Moon) in addition to Kyojo (Jeweled Mirror Samadhi), her Dharma name since Jukai in 1989.

Kazuaki Tanahashi, born and trained in Japan and active in the United States since 1977, has had solo exhibitions of his calligraphic paintings internationally. He has taught East Asian calligraphy at eight international conferences of calligraphy and lettering arts. Also a peace and environmental worker for decades, he is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. His publications includes Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo, The Heart Sutra: A Comprehensive Guide to the Classic of Mahayana Buddhism, and Painting Peace: Art in a Time of Global Crisis.